Ignition device



May 25, 1965 H. A. GoRsKE ETAL 3,185,896

IGNITION DEVICE Filed Oct. 5, 1961 I54 3b 32 l." 3 o 52 42 44 4o Fu. 2to Us 5o f INVENTORS HERMAN A.6.oRSKa ATroRNeY United States Patent O3,185,896 IGNITION DEVICE Herman A. Gorske and Lourdes V. McCarty,Milwaukee, Wis., assignors to Controls Company of America, SchillerPark, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 5, 1961, Ser. No.143,135 Claims. (Cl. 317-88) This invention relates to an electricignition device for pot-type oil burners.

Maintaining a pilot iiame in a pot-type oil burner for ignition purposeshas been unsatisfactory in that the pilot flame is a source of sootwhich impairs efiiciency. There have been prior attempts at providingelectric ignition for pot-type burners, including spark ignition andglow elements of various types. However, during the combustion andignition cycles carbon deposits on and builds up between the electrodesof the spark ignitor or tends to foul the glow elements or associatedparts. In the case of a spark ignitor which is the type provided here,this build up of carbon is rapid and bridges the spark gap rendering theignitor inoperative and requiring cleaning or replacement of theignition device.

It is an object of this invention to provide a spark ignition devicesuitable `for use in a pot-type oil burner.

Another object of this device is to provide a spark ignition device fora pot-type oil burner which will remain free of undesirable carbondeposits.

A further object of this invention is to provide a spark ignition devicefor a pot-type oil burner which will burn oli any carbon deposits in thespark gap.

The novel features of this invention are set forth in the appendedclaims. The invention itself, together with additional objects andadvantages thereof, will be more clearly understood from a reading ofthe following description in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein a preferred embodiment has been illustrated and in which:

FIG. l is a view of the spark ignition device as assembled in a pot-typeoil burner;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section view of the ignition device;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along lines 3-3 of FIG.k 2;

FIG.

FIG. f FIG. 6 is an end view thereof.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention the spark ignition deviceincludes a body 10 composed of a suitable ceramic electricallyinsulating material and having a generaliy conical end portion 12 andstepped cylindrical por- 4 is a sectional view along lines 4-4 of FIG.2;

yincludes a generally conical surface 32 and a cylindrical 5 is a sideview of the spark ignition device; and

`tions 14 and 16 forming a shoulder 18. An elongated surface 30 whichengages cylindrical portion 14 of the body to maintain the guide 23 andsurface 32 in spaced relation to form an annular, generally conical airpassage 34 between end 12 and guide 28.

An annular electrode 36 is positioned on guide 28 in concentricrelationship with electrode 22 to provide an ICC annular spark gap 33therebetween and adjacent the end of air passage 34.

A cap 40 tits over the outer end of guide 28 to hold the electrode 36 inengagement with the guide. A wick member 42 extends through slots 44 inthe cap and includes portions 46 disposed between electrode 36 and guide28. The wick is adapted to be positioned in an oil pool or reservoir 41(see FIG. l) to draw oil up to the spark gap, and includes a portion 48disposed adjacent the spark gap to insure oil delivery to andvaporization at the spark gap. Electrode 36 is preferably made ofsilicon carbide which, in addition to being an electrical conductor,also possesses good wicking properties so that it in effect forms anextension of the wick and insures the delivery of oil to the spark gap.

The assembly comprising body 10, electrode 20, guide 28, wick 42,electrode 36 and cap 40 is positioned within a metallic mounting sleeve52. Mounting sleeve 52 is provided with an inwardly turned end 54 whichis adapted to engage cap 40. The ignition device lits snugly within thesleeve with a cylindrical portion 50 of body 10 and guide 28, both ofwhich have substantially equal outside diameters, engaging the sleeve. Aspring 5S is suitably connected to mounting shell 52 and is positionedto engage body lii to maintain the ignition device in assembledrelationship with the sleeve.

Guide 28 abuts shoulder 18 and, when the ignition device is assembledwithin the mounting sleeve, an annular chamber 5S is formed betweenguide 28 and cylindrical portion 5t?. A plurality of grooves 6l) extendaxially of and are spaced peripherally around the body and connectchamber 53 to annular passage 34. Mounting sleeve 52 includes anaperture 62 which, when the ignition device is assembled inthe sleeve,is in registry with air chamber 53 to provide ingress of air to .thatchamber.

In operation, sleeve is attached to the wall 64 of a pot-type oil burnerand is mounted adjacent the lower end of the oil burner where oilreservoir 41 is provided. A port 66 is provided to supply oil toreservoir 41 and the mounting sleeve is positioned so that Wick 42extends into the reservoir. Electrode 22 is connected to a suitablesource of electrical power and electrode 36, through cap 4G, mountingsleeve 52, and wall 64, is connected to ground to thereby complete anelectrical circuit for the spark gap. @il is drawn up to the spark gapwhere, when a spark arcs across the gap, it is ignited to initiatecombustion within the burner. Preferably the ignition device or thisinvention is used in a forced draft oil burner wherein the pot of theburner is positioned within a rchamber o8 (only a portion or which isshown in FlG. l)

which has associated therewith a source of air such as a blower 7i?. Insuch an oil burner, the air in chamber 6d' is'maintained at a positivepressure 'and will provide a forced air iiow through the ignitiondevice. More particularly, air is forced through opening 62 into chamberSS then passes through grooves 6d to annular passage 34 `and isdischarged through the spark gap. Hence means is provided for directinga forced draft of air through the ignition device. in addition,combustion within the .burner causes air to rise producing an aspiratorel'lect kat adsense developed which will reduce the tendency to producecarbon such that the aspirator effect alone will be sufcient in allapplications. rl`hus a continuous flow of air through the spark gap isprovided so that carbon which deposits on the electrodes, when it hasbeen heated to a combustible temperature by the spark, vill burn-ofi` toresult in continuous removal of carbon which deposits on the electrodes.It should also `be noted that the discharge end of air passage 34conforms to the configuration of spark gap '3S so that a stream of airis provided through the entire spark gap.

The discussion of this invention with relation to a particular preferredembodiment thereof, has been intended for illustrative purposes only andshould not be taken by way or limitation. Accordingly7 it is intended inthe appended claims to cover all modications and embodiments of thisinvention as fail within the true spirit' and scope thereof.

What we claim is:

l. A spark ignition device for use in a pot-type oil burner comprising,in combination, elongated body having a generally conical end and aplurality of longitudinally extending peripherally spaced grooves, afirst electrode supported from said conical end, a first member disposedin surrounding relationship with said body adjacent said conical end, anannular electrode supported on said first member in spaced surroundingrelationship from said first electrode and forming a spark gaptherewith, said first member including a generally conical inner walldisposed in spaced relation from said conical end of said body andforming therewith a conical passage extending .between said grooves andsaid spark gap, means supported on said first member for engaging saidannular electrode and urging said annular electrode into engagement withsaid first member, a wick extending from said spark ignition device andhaving a portion disposed between said annular electrode and said firstmember, and a sleeve member disposed in surrounding relationship withsaid body and engaging said first member to clamp said annular electrodeon said first member with said portion of said wick therebetween, saidsleeve including an aperture opening into said grooves for ingress ofair so that air passes through said grooves and said conical passage andis discharged through said spark gap.

2. The combination of claim l includinry means connected between saidbody and said sleeve for clamping said sleeve on said body.

3. The combination of claim l wherein said annular electrode is made ofsilicon carbide.

4. A spark ignition device for use in a pot-type oil burner comprising,in combination, an elongated body having a generally conical end and aplurality of longitudinally extending peripherally spaced grooves, a rstelectrode supported from said conical end, a first member disposed insurrounding relation to said body adjacent said conical end, an annularelectrode supported on said first member in spaced relationship fromsaid first electrode and forming a spark gap therewith, said firstmember including a generally conical inner wall disposed in spacedrelation from said conical end of said body and forming therewith aconical passage extending between said grooves and said spark gap, meanssupported on said rst member for engaging said annular electrode andurging said annular electrode into engagement with said first member, amounting sleeve member in engagement with said body and including anaperture opening into said grooves for ingress of air so that air passesthrough said grooves and said conical passage for discharge through saidspark gap, and wick means for supplying fuel to said spark gap.

5. A spark ignition device comprising, in combination, a generallycylindrical body having an end portion and a grooved portion including aplurality of axially extending, circumferentially spaced grooves eachextending away from said end portion and terminating intermediate theends of said boda, a first electrode projecting from said end portion,means cooperating with said grooves to define restricted air passagesfrom the termination of said grooves through said grooves to a pointadjacent said first electrode and including a hollow member having agenerally cylindrical interior engaging said body at said groovedportion and extending from a point adjacent said first electrode in adirection away from said rst electrode over said grooves and terminatingintermediate said body end portion and said groove termination, a secondelectrode supported on said first member at said point adjacent saidfirst electrode and disposed in spaced relation from said firstelectrode so that said first and Vsecond electrodes define a spark gapthrough which air is discharged directly by said restricted airpassages, and wick means for supplying fuel to the spark gap.

6. A spark ignition device comprising, in combination, a generallyelongated body having an end portion and a grooved portion including aplurality of longitudinally extending, peripherally spaced grooves eachextending away from said end portion, a first electrode projecting fromsaid end portion, means extending from a point adjacent said firstelectrode in a direction away from said rst electrode over said groovesand terminating in spaced relation from the termination of said groovesto define restricted air passages from said groove terminations andthrough said grooves to a point adjacent said first electrode, a secondelectrode supported on said means at said point adjacent said firstelectrode and in spaced relation from said first electrode so that saidfirst and second lectrodes denne a spark gap through which air isdischarged directly by said restrictcdair passages, and wick means forsupplying fuel to the spark gap.

7. The spark ignition of claim 6 wherein said wick means engages one ofsaid electrodes and said one electrode is made of silicon carbide tofunction as an extension of said wick means in supplying fuel to saidspark gap.

8. A spark ignition device for use in a pot-type oil burner comprising,in combination, an elongated body having a generally conical end and aplurality of longitudinally extending peripherally spaced grooves, afirst electrode supported from said conical end, means disposed insurrounding relation to said body adjacent said conical end, an annularelectrode supported on said means in spaced relationship from said firstelectrode and forming a spark gap therewith, said means defining agenerally conical wall in spaced relation from said conical end of lsaidbody and forming therewith a conical passage extending between saidgrooves and said spark gap, a mounting sleeve member engaging andfitting over said body and including an aperture opening into saidgrooves for ingress of air so that air passes through said grooves andsaid conical passage for discharge through said spark gap, and wickmeans for supplying fuel to said spark gap.

9. A spark ignition device for use in a pot-type oil burner comprising',in combination, an elongated body having an end portion and at least onegroove extending away from said end portion, a first electrode supportedfrom said end portion, means disposed in surrounding relationship withsaid body adjacent said end, an annular electrode supported on said rst'member in spaced surrounding relationship frorn said first electrode andforming a spark gap therewith, said means defining a wall disposed inspaced relation from said end portion of said body and forming therewitha generally annular passage extending between said groove and said sparkgap, wick means extending from a point operatively adjacent said sparkfor supplying fuel to said spark gap, and a sleeve member en'vaging andfitting over said body and including an aperture opening into saidgroove for ingress of air so that air passes through said groove andsaid passage and is discharged through said spark gap.

l0. The combination of claim 6 wherein said second electrode isgenerally annular and is arranged in spaced surrounding relationshipwith said first electrode to define a generally annular spark gapthrough which air from said restricted air passages is discharged.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Fitzpatrick317-88 Steeg 158-28 Sarto 158-28 Udale 200-166 Arthur 158-28 Peroutky etal 158-28 Arthur etal 317-83 X Delano 158-28 RICHARD M. WOOD, PrimaryExaminer.

1. A SPARK IGNITION DEVICE FOR USE IN A POT-TYPE OIL BURNER COMPRISING,IN COMBINATION, AN ELONGATED BODY HAVING A GENERALLY CONICAL END AND APLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING PERIPHERALLY SPACED GROOVES, AFIRST ELECTRODE SUPPORTED FROM SAID CONICAL END, A FIRST MEMBER DISPOSEDIN SURROUNDING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID BODY ADJACENT SAID CONICAL END, ANANNULAR ELECTRODE SUPPORTED ON SAID FIRST MEMBER IN SPACED SURROUNDINGRELATIONSHIP FROM SAID FIRST ELECTRODE AND FORMING A SPARK GAPTHEREWITH, SAID FIRST MEMBER INCLUDING A GENERALLY CONICAL INNER WALLDISPOSED IN SPACED RELATION FROM SAID CONICAL END OF SAID BODY ANDFORMING THEREWITH A CONICAL PASSAGE EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID GROOVES ANDSAID SPARK GAP, MEANS SUPPORTED ON SAID FIRST MEMBER FOR ENGAGING SAIDANNULAR ELECTRODE AND URGING SAID ANNULAR ELECTRODE INTO ENGAGEMENT WITHSAID FIRST MEMBER, A WICK EXTENDING FROM SAID SPARK IGNITION DEVICE ANDHAVING A PORTION DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID ANNULAR ELECTRODE AND SAID FIRSTMEMBER, AND A SLEEVE MEMBER DISPOSED IN SURROUNDING RELATIONSHIP WITHSAID BODY AND ENGAGING SAID FIRST MEMBER TO CLAMP SAID ANNULAR ELECTRODEON SAID FIRST MEMBER WITH SAID PORTION OF SAID WICK THEREBETWEEN SAIDSLEEVE INCLUDING AN APERTURE OPENING INTO SAID GROOVES FOR INGRESS OFAIR SO THAT AIR PASSES THROUGH SAID GROOVES AND SAID CONICAL PASSAGE ANDIS DISCHARGED THROUGH SAID SPARK GAP.